Despite explicit threats and evidence of his intention to harm her, the main suspect in the murder of Lia Malka Cohen was released to house arrest due to a stalled investigation, police say. The suspect refused to unlock his phone. Lia's father said he never even called to check on his daughter.
The case of Lia Malka Cohen, 26, who was murdered by an explosive device on the Ayalon Highway on June 3, took a further turn Sunday evening: Israeli media reported that the main suspect — her estranged husband, Chen Cohen — was released to house arrest, despite having previously sent explicit threats and having been the target of a stalled investigation. According to the police account, the investigation hit a dead end because the suspect refused to unlock his phone and due to other unspecified difficulties. Lia's father said the suspect never even called to check on his daughter, who was supposed to be in the vehicle.
As The Zioneer earlier reported, Chen Cohen, 37 from Rishon LeZion, was named as the suspect in Lia's assassination on June 10, with the publication ban lifted. The murder, involving a bomb placed in her car, was described by police as an orchestrated attack possibly involving criminal elements. In earlier bulletins (June 17), threats sent by Cohen to Lia's father were revealed, in which he allegedly wrote "I will sit even 200 years" and "you will sleep with your eyes open." Despite prior complaints filed by Lia, police maintained the files were handled properly, though the family alleges failures throughout.
Attorney Adi Carmeli, representing the family, slammed the house arrest release earlier on Sunday as "another failure of the Israel Police." The court's decision remains unexplained, but police cited an inability to advance the probe due to the locked phone and further obstacles. It is not yet clear whether the prosecution will appeal the release.
3 developments
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- StrongMessages revealed: Lia Malka Cohen's husband threatened her father before murder
- DevelopingChen Cohen remanded for fourth time in murder of estranged wife Lia Malka
- DevelopingChen Cohen, 37, named as suspect in Lia Ofri Malka bombing murder
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